I want to begin here today by looking at your cases in an area that is very important to many of us, and that is the Second Amendment, the right to keep and bear arms, and your conclusion that the right is not fundamental.

The right to bear arms is a natural right.

The case did not even purport to be a thorough examination of the Second Amendment.

I want to compliment all of you firemen for being willing to stand up in this issue, because this is an important issue for people of whatever race, or gender, or ethnicity.

This is one of the most important cases in the country's history, and that's why it's caused such a furor.

I appreciate the joy and the verve with which you run New York City.

They didn't change the law, they actually recognized there was a case of first impression here that had to be decided.

We all respect you. You know that, I know that. You've given a long public service that is of great distinction.

Those who would rely on such sources must be engaged in a different project.

The notion that this evolution may be brought about by changes in foreign law violates basic premises of democratic self-governance.

I should note that this was before Congress passed the Curt Flood Act authored by Senators Hatch and Leahy which made it clear that baseball's anti-trust exemption could not be used to undermine Federal law.

The most important job of a Supreme Court justice is to discern what the words on that piece of parchment mean.

To put the point most simply, as a general matter, it is unfathomable how the law of, say, France, in 2009, could help one discern the original public meaning of the United States Constitution.

The Supreme Court should be made up of men and women who are on the side of the law and the Constitution.

I can assure you that if I applied Senator Obama's standard to your nomination, I wouldn't vote for you.

I hope that would not have disqualified me.

The Constitution requires that judges be free from personal politics, feelings, and preferences.

I am as struck today as I was the first time by the seriousness of our responsibility and its impact on America.